Genealogy is like a jigsaw puzzle, but you don't have the box top, so you don't know what the picture is supposed to look like. As you start putting the puzzle together, you realize some pieces are missing, and eventually you figure out that some of the pieces you started with don't actually belong to this puzzle. I'll help you discover the right pieces for your puzzle and assemble them into a picture of your family.

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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

"Right of Return": Citizenship by Descent

Was your grandmother or great-grandfather born in Italy? Was your grandfather born in Ireland? Or maybe your mother or grandfather (even up to a great-great-grandfather) was born in India. These are some of the countries that allow descendants of their diasporas (citizens and/or residents who left the country to live somewhere else, voluntarily or sometimes otherwise) to apply for citizenship under less stringent requirements than the average person.

Each country sets its own requirements and restrictions for citizenship through right of return, as they do with normal citizenship requirements. For Italy, for example, you can apply if your great-grandparent, grandparent, or parent was born in Italy and did not renounce citizenship before a more recent ancestor was born in another country. I recently helped someone with his application for Italian citizenship using this method. His great-grandfather was born in Italy and did not give up Italian citizenship before his grandfather was born in the U.S. I researched and confirmed the family connections, ordered copies of the relevant required documents, arranged for a translation of my client's birth certificate into Italian, and acquired an apostille (international certification similar in function to a notarization) for his birth certificate. He submitted his application to the local Italian consulate, which approved it with no problems. It will take about five months for the application to be processed, and he will then have dual citizenship, U.S. and Italy.

What's the point of doing this? Some people do it because they want to be more closely connected to their ancestral homelands. On a more practical level, some (such as my client) do it because Italian citizenship not only will allow him to travel freely to Italy, it also permits free travel throughout the European Union.

Most of the time citizenship acquired through right of return is equivalent to full citizenship of the country. One country that does it differently is India. Instead of granting citizenship, that country gives descendants of the Indian diaspora status as "Persons of Indian Origin." This status allows someone to go to India without a visa, exempts him from restrictions on work for foreign nationals, and makes it easier to become a full citizen if desired. (Maybe one day my stepsons will be interested; their grandfather was born in Punjab.)

Sometimes a person looking for citizenship through right of return is disappointed. Someone else I did research for was not eligible for Italian citizenship because his great-grandfather became a naturalized U.S. citizen before his grandfather was born. In an interesting twist, descendants of the grandfather's older brother are eligible, because the older brother was born before the great-grandfather renounced Italian citizenship.

General information about right of return can be found here, with examples from several countries. One I found especially interesting was Spain, which has a specific provision for descandants of Sephardic Jews who were expelled from the country in 1492 (which will require a lot of research to document!). If the country you are looking for doesn't appear in this list, try searching for "right of return" and the name of the country.

Do you know anything about an exception for Italian citizenship for Jews who were forced to leave by decree in Nov. 1939? My father was born in Italy but had to leave, and in 1945 he became a naturalized U.S. citizen. My eldest sibling was born in 1952, so according to the basic citizenship requirements, we wouldn't be eligible. I thought I read there was an exception for those forced to leave the country but now can't find where I read that.

None of the information I have seen refers to people who were forced to leave, so I can't point you to anything. You can send a message to the San Francisco consulate, which is the one I was working with, at cittadinanza.sanfrancisco@esteri.it. The person there was very helpful and informative.

My mother was born at Libya at 1963 and was banished to Italy at 1967.She know jews back than had some sort of colonial citizenship by Italian authorities in Libya, but she does not remember if her parents had to.Anyway let's say they did, do you know if that gives her the rights for an Italian citizenship nowadays?

Hello, Jon,If your grandparents were Italian citizens when your mother was born, then that should give her the right to apply for citizenship. There's a good write-up on Italian citizenship through descent athttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_nationality_law#Attribution_of_citizenship_through_jus_sanguinisbut it doesn't cover every detail. Libya is not mentioned at all. The best thing to do is speak to someone at the nearest consulate, because that's where the application would be submitted.Best of luck with your search,Janice

Can i do it for" Deutschland"?i speak very well deutsch i also still have my teutonic deutsch last name "SCHNEIDER" my great grand father fled to the U.S. V.I which belong to denmark at one point.. he was a schutzstaffel an fled nürnberg trials.. My family fought for both ww1 and 2 for deutschland.. everything i read basically already makes me qualified its just idk the next step to take. i called a deutsch embassy in miami by doesnt talk about Jus sanguinis or right of return. i also had a deutsch foreign exchange student and also said im deutsch. he said my last name helps alot. but please i just need to know whats my next step to do? call deutschland itself? and will they look up documents aswell or i must bring?P.S. im the 1st generation born in the 50 states and my dad and his dad born in the U.S.V.I which belong to denmark at one time. the rest of my family great great great great are deutsch..

Based on the research I did last year for someone, I don't think so. You can find an overview of German citizenship law at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_citizenship. In particular, Article 116 of German Basic Law (http://www.iuscomp.org/gla/statutes/GG.htm#116) defines who is a German. Someone who fought for Germany in World War II and fled the trials does not appear to qualify.

The Danish Virgin Islands were purchased by the United States during World War I, so that means you had three generations living under U.S. law, and two born under it, even before you were born in the United States proper.

Hi Janice, I really want to go traveling through europe and maybe spend a year or two studying there, so I've been looking into my ancestry to see if i'm eligible for any dual citizenship but its really really confusing! My Great Grandfather had Lithuanian citizenship before June 1940 and fled to scotland around 1930 because of the impending war, apparently this means I could be one of the few eligible for dual Lithuanian citizenship which it normally does not grant. However, the laws have changed a lot recently and I'm unsure whether he had to leave after 1940.Also both my grandparents were born in Britain one in Scotland the other in Northern Ireland they then neutralised in Australia, do I have any citizenship eligibility or is it just my mother that can apply?

Hi, everyone's situation is different, and you'll need to prove every fact with documentation. For the past few months I've been helping someone track down documentation for his application for Lithuanian dual citizenship. These are links to the regulations he has been working from:

The "Law on Citizenship" in English from what I believe is a Lithuanian Parliament Web site:http://www3.lrs.lt/pls/inter3/dokpaieska.showdoc_l?p_id=395555

The "Dual Citizenship" write-up from the Lithuanian Consulate in New York site:http://ny.mfa.lt/index.php?2683697254

It would appear that you could be eligible. You might want to contact a consulate near you and ask for advice.

I have a very similar situation as the Italian descent person that you helped. My great grandfather on my mother's father's side was born in Italy. However, he became a naturalized citizen of the United States before my grandfather was born. Do you believe I am eligible to become an Italian citizen?

If your Italian great-grandfather became a U.S. citizen before your grandfather was born, sorry, but you are not eligible for Italian citizenship through him. You would only be eligible if your grandfather were born before your great-grandfather renounced his Italian citizenship.

Hi Janice my grandfather and great grandfather were born in Italy my mother and myself were born in the U.S. I would love mor then anything to become an Italian citizen and be a part of my heritage and family there. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do have some forms and information if that might help you.m

If your grandfather became a U.S. citizen before your mother was born, your are not eligible for Italian citizenship through descent. If he became a citizen after your mother was born, whether you are eligible depends on when your mother was born. You can find more details here:

Hi Janice-I'm living in Germany now under the SOFA agreement but my ancestors (at least one uncle on my mothers side) lived in Germany before and during WW2. Would this help qualify me for right of return in Germany?Thanks!

Based on my understanding of eligibility, I don't think so. It appeared to me that you need to be a direct descendant. You can find an overview of German citizenship law at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_citizenship. In particular, Article 116 of German Basic Law (http://www.iuscomp.org/gla/statutes/GG.htm#116) defines who is a German. But you should definitely check with a consulate near you to make sureJanice

Hi Janice, I am currently looking into getting Italian dual citizenship. I am not certain but I am pretty sure my grandparents were naturalized before my mother was born but a friend said there might be a glimmer of hope because my grandfather served in the Italian armed forces. Is that true?Thanks for all that you do!Sincerely, Betty

They all seem pretty clear that if your grandparent naturalized before your parent was born, you are not eligible. But you can always ask at the Italian consulate nearest to where you live to find out if exceptions can be made for men who served in Italy's armed forces.

Thank you! Generally speaking Austria seems to allow children of citizens to become citizens fairly easily. If it's through your grandfather you might need to go through additional steps, particularly depending on what his citizenship status was at the time. There's a quick breakdown of information here:

Well, you can't apply for citizenship to England, because the United Kingdom is the name of the governing country. But how many generations back was your most recent ancestor who was a citizen of England and/or the UK?

Greetings from the USA! Is there such a thing as "right of return" for people of Dutch heritage for the Netherlands or Swiss heritage for Switzerland? I checked your link so my guess is no but you may know something more?

The Netherlands page does not mention anything about right of return. The Switzerland page notes that second- and third-generation descendants of citizens of the Canton of Vaud can obtain citizenship more easily, but one of the requirements is that the person be between the ages of 18 and 24.

Keep in mind these Wikipedia pages are overviews. For more details and to find out if there is some form of right of return that isn't listed, it's always best to contact a consulate or embassy.

unless you officially renounced your British citizenship through the UK Border Agency, you are still a British citizen. I recommend you check with your nearest consulate about what your status currently is and resumption of your citizenship if necessary.

Hi Janicewonder if you could advise me on some thing,i just learned that my great great grandfather was born in italy would i be able to apply for a italian passport?i do qualify for an uk ancestral visa as my grandfather was from the uk,i am south african,any information would be greatly appreciated.thank youregardslindaxoxo

Hi, Linda,You might be eligible, depending on when your great-great-grandfather was born, and if and when he or another one of your ancestors renounced Italian citizenship. I know what the process is in the United States, but have no experience with it in South Africa. It is probably similar, but every consulate has its own version of the process. You should consult with the nearest Italian consulate to find out.Regards, Janice

Hello Janice!Ii is very nice to read You. So, If I may ask: my great grandfather and great grandmother were born in Boemia, and came to Brasil in 1880.My grandfather was born in Brasil, as my father and Me. Do you think that would be possible for my father and I obtain Austrian citizenship?Thank You, so much.

Thank you for finding my blog. I'm not sure if you would be eligible for Austrian citizenship, because Bohemia is currently in the Czech Republic. While Bohemia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, that was not exactly the same thing as Austria. Some basic information about Austrian citizenship is here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_citizenship

but this brief overview does not mention anything about the Empire or whether citizenship in the Empire is considered the same for jus sanguinis as citizenship in Austria proper. Also, if your great-grandfather renounced Austrian citizenship to become a Brasilian citizen, that would make you ineligible for citizenship via jus sanguinis.

I'm sorry I can't give you a more direct answer, but European border changes mean it can become complicated. I suggest you contact an Austrian consulate to find out what they can tell you regarding your eligibility for citizenship.

My great grandfather was born in Italy. My grandfather was born in the US but while my great grandfather was still an Italian citizen in 1912.

However, my grandfather was drafted into the military in WW2. He later had my father. Does being drafted into a war count as renouncing citizenship? Am I eligible assuming no other actions that count as renouncing citizenship occurred?

If rour grandfather was born in the U.S. while your great-grandfather was still an Italizn citizen, you are eligible. Your grandfather was born a U.S. citizen. He didn't renounce anything by serving in the military.

Hi Janice,I am an Australian currently living in the UK on a work visa and am looking to get Italian/Australian duel citizenship. My paternal grandmother was born in Italy and was still an Italian citizen when my father was born in Australia in 1955. Am I eligible? Also I am not sure how to go about starting the process in London if I am! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Hi! As I understand the process, you should be eligible. Your grandmother was an Italian citizen, and your father was born after 1 January 1948. You will need to document your lineage through your grandmother, including birth, marriages, and possibly deaths, and her naturalization. To find out how to about the process, you should check with the nearest consulate, which probably is this one: http://www.conslondra.esteri.it/Consolato_Londra. Good luck with your quest!

Hi Janice, my name is Stephanie Agustin and I have a few questions for you. My first question is how do I find out if my great grandma was really from Spain? Second, how do I apply for citizenship for Spain? Supposedly, some of our family is from Italy, but how can I verify that its true if they have passed away? Lastly, what are the benefits of becoming a citizen? Thank you for reading this!

The way you find out if your great-grandmother was really from Spain is by doing research. When you look for documents about your great-grandmother, you'll want to make sure they're about the right person. Second-hand information, such as a census that says she was born in Spain, is not considered reliable but only a clue. You'll need to find Spanish records for her to know for sure if she was born there.

There is a summary of information about Spanish citizenship law here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_citizenship

If you were interested in applying, you should visit the nearest Spanish consulate and learn what the specific requirements are, though it appears a residency period is required for almost everyone.

You would verify that your family members were from Italy the same as verifying that your great-grandmother was from Spain: through research. You would need to document their births in Italy and prove their relationship to you.

The primary tangible benefit of becoming an Italian or Spanish citizen for most people is that it also conveys citizenship in the European Union, which means you can travel throughout the EU and work in any member country. On an intangible level, it also generally makes people feel closer to their ancestor's country of origin.

Italy permits dual citizenship. According to the information on the Wikipedia page, Spain does not permit dual citizenship for most naturalized citizens. That is something you would want to verify and consider before going through the process.

Hi Janice, First of all, thanks for this blog, it's incredibly informative!Secondly, I was wondering if you could help me and maybe advise the best course of action for my future plans.I am American by birth who is married to a British citizen. We are planning to move to London, and I would like to get an EU passport so it will be easier to live there.A little background:Both my paternal and maternal grandparents were from Romania. My maternal grandparents were from a city called Satu Mare and were deported to Auschwitz in 1944. When they went back after the war, their house and all documents inside had been burnt down. They moved to America where my mother was born.My paternal grandparents were much further north in Romania and the war did not reach them. After the war, they traveled down to find any surviving family members, and my father was born in 1950 in the DP camp of Bergen Belsen in Germany. They then moved to America, and on my father's passport it says born in Germany. They don't either have any paperwork.Is there anything you can recommend I do to try and reclaim either German or Romanian citizenship, knowing about the lack of paperwork and documentation?Thanks so much!

Thank you! I'm glad you have found the information on my blog helpful.

Regarding your question, your easiest path is probably to acquire British citizenship via being married to a British citizen. A short synopsis is available here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_citizenship#British_citizenship_by_naturalisation

Note that it says one requirement is three years' residence.

The most likely possibility for all four of your grandparents' citizenship would be Romanian. It is possible to acquire dual Romanian citizenship by being a descendant of a citizen, but first you need to prove your ancestor was a Romanian citizen. This requires extensive research in Romanian archives, not an easy thing to accomplish, and that's assuming the documents are there to begin with.

The fact that your father was born in a German DP camp did not confer German citizenship on him. He would have been considered the same nationality as his parents, i.e., probably Romanian.

I'm sorry I couldn't give you better news, but I wish you well in your move.

Thank you for your wonderful article! I hope you could give me a bit of guidance. My paternal grandparents were born in England, they came to the US in 1930, my father was born in the 30s and my grandparents became US citizens in the early 50s. My maternal grandmother was born in Ireland, she came to the US in the mid 20s, met and married my grandfather (born in US but raised in Ireland). My mother was born in the early 30s, my grandmother became a US citizen in the mid 40s. Would I be eligible for a right of return to either the UK or Ireland? Thanks so much! Patty.

Good afternoon, Patty! Thank you for the kind words and for reading my blog.

Based on what you have said, I believe you are eligible for Irish citizenship, because your mother was born before your grandmother became a U.S. citizen. So your mother would automatically have been an Irish citizen, and she could pass that on to you. All of that needs to be verified with research, of course.

As for British citizenship, your grandparents would have transmitted it directly to your father on his birth. Based on when your father was born, I'm guessing you were born before 1983. It does not appear he passed on his British citizenship to you because he didn't register you for citizenship when you were an infant, but there are a lot of "if this, then that" provisions.

Keep in mind that the Wikipedia pages are overviews and that anyone's specific situation may be treated differently. I recommend carefully reading the footnotes and external links for both pages, and speaking with someone from a consulate for each country.

Best of luck with your question for citizenship! Let me know how it turns out.

My maternal grandfather, has served british army for 4 years in india- 1942-1946 . his dob was 31st August 1924 ,he expired on 18th may 2010.I m 38 and married and would like to know if I would be eligible to get UK citizenship

I believe you would be eligible. According to this synopsis on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_of_return#United_Kingdom

your grandfather gained full citizenship in 1948 under the British Nationality Act, and the Immigration Act 1971 gave rights to the grandchildren of citizens. To be certain, however, you should consult with the nearest British consulate for the specifics of your situation.

Thanks for the informative blog! I too have a quick question about citizenship. My mother was born in the UK in the 60s, but was naturalised as an Australian before my birth and has lived in Australia ever since. She's wondering if, because she never renounced British citizenship, she'd still be considered a British citizen. She's also wondering if I, as her daughter born in Australia in the 90s, would qualify as a citizen by descent. We're just interested in your opinion, as we're aware that we'll probably have to contact the consulate on this matter.

Thank you, and I'm glad you have found my blog informative! You are absolutely correct in that you will want to contact the consulate for specific information. I also believe you are probably correct that if your mother did not renounce British citizenship, she probably is still considered a British citizen. She threfore should be able to pass that to you. There is a brief overview of British citizenshpi by descent here:

Of particular interest is the statement, "A child born outside the UK on or after 1 January 1983 automatically acquires British citizenship by descent if either parent is a British citizen other than by descent at the time of the birth." So the key element will be whether your mother actually was still considered a British citizen after her Australian naturalization.

it appears you would probably fall into the category "person, who has entered into a marriage with a citizen of the Republic of Lithuania who is a deportee, political prisoner or his child, born in exile", and the stated requirements are five years of residence.

That said, you should definitly consult with a Lithuanian consulate to make sure this is correct. In addition, you will want to keep in mind that Lithuania now is generally not in favor of dual citizenship, and obtaining Lithuanian citizenship may mean you have to renounce your current citizenship.

I am currently looking into the possibility for myself and my mother to get a British/Netherland passport. My great grandfather was born in Netherlands im not entirely sure if he gave up citizenship. My great grandmother was born in UK and I read they had to be born before 1922 witch she was. Any info would be a great help.Thank you in advance!!Chenae

You didn't say where you are now or which citizenship you hold, which might affect things. For British citizenship, a quick overview is here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nationality_law#British_citizenship_by_descent

On that page is the following:"Before 1983, as a general rule "Citizenship of the UK and Colonies" (CUKC) was transmitted automatically only for one generation, with registration in infancy possible for subsequent generations."

You said that your great-grandmother was born in the UK. It would appear that her British citizenship would have been transmitted to your grandparent, but no further unless that person officially registered your mother.

An overview of Dutch citizenship by descent is here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_nationality_law

Dutch citizenship is more complicated. It says there that prior to 1985, Dutch descent had to be through a male line. So your great-grandfather would have passed on his Dutch nationality to your grandparent. If that person was your grandfather, he could have passed it on to your mother. But your mother could not pass it on to you if you were born before 1985. If the relevant grandparent was your grandmother, she could not pass it on to her children. I recommend reading the synopsis available on the page for more details.

As always, the information on Wikipedia is the "quickie" version. For complete details, you should look on the relevant consulate sites and/or speak to a consulate in your area to determine your eligibility.

Hi, it appears you might be eligible to apply for Italian citizenship. Part of it will depend on whether your great-grandparents naturalized as Australian citizens and when they did so. There is good information available at

Hmm I've found the family tree of Italian side... it goes like this Grandma born in aussie, Great Grand Father born in Aussie, Great Great Grand Father born in Milan Italy. Sounds like unlikely to be able to apply Italian Citizenship as its go further back than I thought... :(

I wasn't able to add my comment right under yours for some reason, but no, you are not automatically excluded. If your great-great-grandfather lived in Italy after it became a unified country, which was March 17, 1861, you're ok on that point. If he died before Italy was unified, yes, you have a problem. Italy doesn't limit it by the number of generations but by whether the Italian-born ancestor lived in "Italy." So when was your great-great-grandfather born, and when did he leave Italy?

Previously you said that your great-great-grandfather was born in 1838 in Milan and left in 1854. If that's the case, then it doesn't matter whether he naturalizedi n Australia or not (and even though Australian citizenship began in 1949, he might have naturalized as a British citizen). If he left Milan in 1854, he wasn't living there in 1861, when Italy became a unified country. That makes you ineligible.

Thanks, I only put in the dates from each generations. Haven't read the family tree book... but just read it briefly this morning... just discovered GGGF married to "Australia born" GGGM, her parents is from Ireland.

So there's no record of my GGGF his time until he got married in 1866. Gonna be hard to find out if he went back Italy or not during the gap of between the years of 1854 and 1866.

If there's no record of your GGGF until 1866, you still have a small chance. I know there are some records for ships coming into Australia, but I don't know if any exist from that early. I guess you have an incentive to do some research! Good luck!

Hi, Janice. I have enjoyed reading all these intricate questions posed you. Might I ask one?

My mom was born in the UK in 1938,and grew up there. She met my father, a US serviceman stationed in England in 1959 and became pregnant (with me) in 1960. My parents decided that my mom should relocate to the US to settle into an apartment and wait for my dad to finish his UK tour of duty. So my mom flew to the US and I was born in 1961. My dad returned to the States and our family continued to live here.

Fast forward 30+ years, I marry and have a child in 1993. My mom is still a green-card holder. We are all living in the US.

Two decades later, it's December 2014 and I learn--quite by accident--I can become a UK citizen by descent. I'm pretty certain my child cannot have UK citizenship through me. However, this article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nationality_law#British_citizenship_by_descent and others I have read seem to say my child may have UK citizenship through her grandmother (my mom). Am I interpreting this correctly?

Not only that, I've discovered my paternal grandmother (my daughter's great-grandmother) was a Lithuanian refugee who lived in the US but never naturalized, and my daughter's great grandparents (paternal side) were German Jews who changed their names on arrival into Ellis Island.

Thanks for writing. It's nice to hear that you have enjoyed the earlier posts.

I agree with you that you are eligible to become a UK citizen by descent. I don't see information in the Wikipedia article that says anything about how someone can become a citizen through a grandparent, however. Can you point me to the specific section you are interpreting this way?

As far as I know, due to recent changes in Lithuanian citizenship law, you and your daughter would be eligible for citizenship there only if your grandmother left the country after 1940 due to Soviet repression. German citizenship through Jewish ancestors I don't know much about.

Hi,My sister and I are US citizens who would like to obtain dual citizenship in any EU country. Our great-grandparents were all immigrants: 2 from Ireland, 4 from Germany, 1 from Romania, and 1 from Austria-Hungary. I don't know if or when any of them naturalized in the US, but my mom might have that information on file somewhere. Also, if it's relevant, I was born in 1994 and my sister was born in 1997. Would we be eligible for EU citizenship through any of our great-grandparents?

Unless your great-grandparents registered their children as citnzens, you are unlikely to be eligible for Ireland or Germany. Romania might be possible, but it is a difficult country to do research for. Austria-Hungary would appear to be your best chance, but it depends on where exactly that great-grandparent was from and what country it is today.

Thank you for your prompt reply; the reason I took so long to reply again is because I've been looking through my mom's files.Unfortunately, my Irish and German ancestors did not register anyone as citizens, so that would be out.My mother's files indicate that the Austro-Hungarian great-grandparent (who was ethnically German, as well) was from an area that is now part of Serbia. Serbia is not currently an EU member state, but from a brief perusal of Wikipedia it seems it will be soon.So, do you know if we would be eligible for Serbian citizenship? Or would Romanian citizenship be the better option?Thanks again.

A very brieef overview of Serbian nationality law is available on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbian_nationality_law

According to what it says, you would be eligible for dual citizenship, but it does not give any details about what you would need to do. The reference links at the bottom of the page are in Serbian, which I unfortunately do not read and cannot help you with.

I suggest contacting a Serbian consulate near you and asking what the requirements are to apply for Serbian citizenship by descent. Judging by the Wikipedia page, it will probably be easier to obtain Serbian citizenship than Romanian simply because accomplishing research in Romania is still very difficult.

I have just saw this website and read your comment. I hope the answer is not coming too late :)

Related to Serbia citizenship, Im not 100% sure if you can get citizenship based on your great-grandparents, but since Serbia will not enter EU soon i think its better for you to forget this. But from your post I understand that your great-grandparents are from Vojvodina, which is part of Serbia today. In this case you can ask for Hungarian citizenship since Vojvodina was under Austro-Hungaria at that time. But for Hungarian citizenship you need to know Hungarian language very very good, and you need to proof that your great-grandparents where live in Vojvodina during Austro-Hungarian empire.

Thank you very much for the additional information. As you mentioned, knowing the Hungarian language is one requirement people applying for dual citizenship must meet. In addition, Amy would need to prove her great-grandparents were Austro-Hungarian citizens, as opposed to simply living in Vojvodina.

I just recently came across this and have become very interested. I know that my great great grandparents were born and Italy. Im not sure about when their citizenship changed or if the requirements were meet. If they were though, is there anyway that I could gain citizenship? Could my mother gain it, then possibly make me eligible? Or possibly my grandmother gain citizenship and make me eligible? I really love the country and its culture and would love it if one day I could be apart of it.

Yes, you might be eligible for dual citizenship. Whether you actually are depends on when your Italian emigrant ancestor became a citizen of another country and the line of descent from that ancestor. An overview of eligibility requirements is available at

Janice this is a very informative article. I was wondering if you could help with my case. Where my grandmother was born to a dutch father but was raised in Uganda. Would her grandchild be able to apply for citizenship in this case?

An overview of Dutch citizenship by descent is here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_nationality_law

It say there that someone born before 1985 to an unmarried Dutch father and non-Dutch mother must have been acknowledged by the father to be automatically a Dutch citizen at birth. It also discusses some ways in which citizenship could be acquired later, including proof of paternity through a court. It's possible you might be eligible through one of the latter ways.

As always, the information on Wikipedia is the "quickie" version. For complete details, you should look on the relevant consulate sites and/or speak to a consulate in your area to determine your eligibility.

I have not done much Dutch research and am not familiar with what records are available online or offline. A recommended Dutch researcher is Yvette Hoitink, Dutch Genealogy Services, http://www.dutchgenealogy.nl. I am sure she can give you good advice.

Hi thereI'm not sure if you would know what I can do to get my Italian citizenship back?I was born in Italy and moved to Canada when I was 12. I became a Canadian citizen in 1988 at age 17, but never renounced my Italian Citizenship (I had no idea I had to do that). There was a 5 year period from 1992 where if you renounced you could get it back, but because I didn't renounce I didn't know. My mother is Italian and is currently living in Italy, my sister has dual citizenship, my father was Italian but has passed away 25 yrs ago. I moved back to Italy for 2.5 years from 1990-1993, but of course I have no proof I was there except for a stamp on my Canadian diploma renouncing studies at the university of Ancona. Any ideas??Thank you

Hi, you would seem to be in an unusual situation. According to the synopsis of Italian citizenship law available on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_nationality_law

you could lose your Italian citizenship by naturalizing as a citizen of another country and if of competent legal age (21 years if before 10 March 1975 or 18 years if after 9 March 1975). You were younger than either age cited, which could mean your naturalization did not cause you to lose your Italian citizenship.

I did not see any information about regaining one's Italian citizenship on the synopsis page. Due to your specific circumstances, I would recommend talking to an Italian consulate and probably also a lawyer to find out how your situation would be handled.

Could you perhaps assist me with info on getting my Dutch citizenship through my grandmother. She was born there so has her parents and all her brothers and sisters. I still have distant family in Amsterdam. And I really want to get my citizenship so i can get my family out of South africa to give my kids a better future.

Ma'am, I hope you could help me, we are from a non-EU country, my dad worked in Ireland for almost 10 years now and acquired his Irish citizenship thru naturalization just this year (2015), my question is, if we are eligible to apply for Irish citizenship? (my mom, used to lived in Ireland together with my dad, but was revoked of her long term residency because she returned and stayed too long before coming back to Ireland), I am already married with 3 kids and my wife will be giving birth come end of this year. If we are not eligible, does Irish Citizenship by Descent also apply on naturalized citizen? Thank you and God bless.

My experience is with people who are trying to acquire citizenship through right of return. Citizenship by descent be claimed through naturalized citizens, but only if the citizenship was acquired before the birth of the children, which does not apply in your case.

If you look at the Wikipedia page about Irish nationality law, specifically at the section regarding naturalization:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_nationality_law#By_naturalisation

it says that the residency requirement *may* be waived for children of naturalized citizens. My interpretation of this is that it the normal procedure for children of naturalized citizens who were born before the parent became an Irish citizen are required to go through the full naturalization process.

I recommend you consult with the Irish consulate closest to you to learn about your eligibility and what requirements you would have. The best of luck with your quest.

Hi, I was wondering what the rules are on if my great great grandpa lost his german citizenship when he became an american citizen or not. Also would it affect my great grandmas german citizenship status when she was born in missouri.

Part of it depends on when your great-great-grandfather became a citizen, but generally yes, he would have lost his German citizenship on becoming an American citizen. If your great-grandmother was born before her father became a U.S. citizen, she probably retained her German citizenship. If she was born after he became a U.S. citizen, she would not have German citizenship.

One final question :) I don't know if this is in your expertise but here it goes. If my great great grandfather was still a german citizen when my great grandmother was born is it possible for me to obtain a german passport?Thanks again for all your answers

If your great-great-grandfather was still a German citizen when your great-grandmother was born, and if the chain has not been broken in some way between her and you, then you probably are considered a German citizen by blood and would be able to obtain a German passport, after going through the official process to become a citizen.

My dad was born in Germany in 1950 and his parents were both Ukrainian citizens. They moved to the US in 1952, but my dad did not obtain US citizenship. I'm trying to figure out where he is considered to have citizenship and wonder if you have any thoughts.

Also, I noticed some comments of your about Austria. My maternal grandmother was born in, and grew up in, Austria and my mom was born in the US. It sounds like I could potentially receive dual citizenship only if my mom was born while my grandma was still an Austrian citizen. Is that accurate?

If your father's parents were Ukrainian citizens, then he was born with Ukrainian citizenship through them. If he did not become a U.S. citizen and did not renounce his Ukrainian citizenship in some other way, he should have passed it on to you. It is possible to gain Ukrainian citizenship through descent, but the country is in somewhat of a shambles right now.

Most of my comments about Austria have been about people born in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Its dissolution causes a few headaches in determining which country someone's birthplace is now. As for your grandmother, however, the fact that she was born in the country of Austria does not necessarily mean she was born with Austrian citizenship. If she was an Austrian citizenship, a synopsis of information about their citizenship laws can be found at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_nationality_law

Near the bottom of the page is the section on dual citizenship, which Austria restricts quite a bit. Unless you fall into one of the other categories, it does appear that the only way you could qualify for dual citizenship is if your mother was born while your grandmother was still an Austrian citizen, and your mother did not in any way renounce that citizenship before you were born.

I am Canadian fairly far back but have a great grandfather who was born in Scotland and a great grandmother born in France. I understand that I may not be eligible for any other citizenship but can my mother go get a Scottish passport because of her Scottish grandfather and then if my mother gets the Scottish passport, would I be eligible because my mother has one?

There currently is no such thing as a Scottish passport because there is no "Scottish citizenship." Scots are British citizens. The quick synopsis of British nationality law for citizenship by descent at

says that prior to 1983, citizenship was transmitted automatically for only one generation for children not born in the UK. So your grandparent probably would have had British citizenship automatically through your great-grandfather, but your mother would not unless her parent had registered her as a British citizen as an infant.

Dear Janice, my biological mother is Belgian with her Belgian parents (both deceased now). My half sisters are both Belgian citizens. I was adopted when I was 5 years of age by South Africans and hold a South African passport. I eventually got hold of my biological mother's birth certificate and applied for Belgian citizenship. It was denied as I had no Belgian links according to the authorities. 5 direct Belgian family members - that should be enough? I am currently 55 years old but have been trying since I was about 31. I feel I qualify as I did not choose to be separated from my Belgian mother. My half sisters (she remarried later on) are both Belgian citizens but I am being refused?

indicates that for children born before 1967, Belgian citizenship is passed down to a legitimate child of a Belgian father; and to an illegimate child of a Belgian mother, who if not acknowledged by the father before age 21 remain Belgian. That would seem to be the best approach you could take, but keep in mind that the information available on Wikipedia is a synopsis only and does not take into account adoption. You should try to find more information about this provision in the complete statutes. Unfortunately, your feelings about your qualifications do not govern the situation.

Both my maternal grandparents were Russian citizens. My mother is an Australian citizen and has never taken Russian citizenship although is interested in getting it now if eligible. I am keen to get dual Australian/Russian citizenship by descent myself. Would my mother be eligible though her parents are both deceased, and do you know if I would then be eligible should she gain her citizenship. I am in my early 30's, my mum is in her mid 60's.

When you say that your grandparents were Russian citizens, do you mean the Russia of today, or the Russian Empire of the early 20th century? If the latter, the first thing you should do is determine if they were from a place that is actually in Russia today. That said, there is an overview of Russian nationality law at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizenship_of_Russia

Nothing there mentions gaining nationality by descent, so I do not know if it is possible to do so. I suggest you visit the nearest Russian consulate and consult with the officials there to learn if Russia offers what you are seeking. The best of luck with your search.

Janice,I would love your help. I am seeking dual Italian Citizenship and have some questions. My Great Grandfather, and Grandfather were born in Italy. They both came to the states in 1914. My father was born on December 25, 1939 and my Grandfather was naturalized in 1921 (before my fathers birth). However, my Great grandfather never naturalized and neither he or my grandfather denounced their Italian Citizenship. Is this scenario viable for dual citizenship?

I'm afraid I have bad news for you. In 1921, your grandfather had to renounce his Italian citizenship to become an American citizen. That means you are not eligible through your father, as his father was no longer an Italian citizen when he was born. In addition, even if your grandmother was still an Italian citizen in 1939, you would not be eligible because your father was born before 1948. You do not appear to be eligible for dual citizenship on this side of your family.

Hello, Janice. You are amazing! I have a question, if you don't mind. My father's parents, grandparents and great-grandparents, etc. were all born in the northern Romania area of Bucovina and Suceava. My grandparents came to the US in the early 1900s through Ellis Island. My father was born in Ohio. Would I have an option to acquire Romanian citizenship? I am currently living in the United States. Thank you for any help!

Another addition to the Romanian Bucovina question, if you don't mind. I did find out that my grandparents were born in 1830 and 1836 in Bucovina. At that time, Bucovina was part of the Austrian Empire. They fled in 1912 before WWI to the US. I assume that when they came through Ellis Island they had to renounce their Autrian citizenship? My father was born in the US in 1925. My grandparents never returned to Bucovina, which later become part of Romania after WWI. Do I have any possibility of claiming Right of Return to either Austria or Romania? Thanks for any help!

The first thing you would need to do is find documentation from Europe of where your grandparents were born and where they were considered citizens. If they were indeed from somewhere that is now in Romania, that country does not appear to have a provision for citizenship by descent, at least not going by the short synopsis available at

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_nationality_law

As far as I know, Austria does not accept citizenship by descent from locations that are outside of its current borders.

Thanks for the reply. I did some more research and I believe that my ancestors were Hungarian, as the surname Ungureanu is Hungarian. I read that in 2011 Hungary had some sort of reclamation law enacted, I wonder if that would work for Hungarian citizenship by descent.

Hi JaniceMy maternal GGF was born in Hannover Germany 1867 and his wife in Celle Niedersachsen Germany in 1873. My maternal GGMother was born in Tilsit East Germany,1888 h Pomerania 1888 married GGF born in Australia 1887 of which my maternal Grandmother was born in Swakopmund, SWA (Namibia) in 1911. My paternal GGF was born in 1874 in Penzance Cornwall. I have geneology going back to the 15 00 's Netherland, France, Germany, Australia. i was born as were my parents in SA, Is there any chance of me requiring citizenship from any of the above, or Right to Return?

Hi, I'm sorry to say it doesn't look good for you. I believe the British citizenship is simply too far back. The only way you could be eligible for German citizenship is if one of your parents was born a German citizen, which could happen only if their ancestors had not given up their German citizenship by becoming citizens of another country. I suspect that during the three three intervening generations at least one of them became a citizen somewhere else? Australian citizenship is also probably not possible because of the intervening generations. Unless your ancestors did not naturalize in any of the countries they lived in, it doesn't sound as though you would be eligible.

Hi Janice. My great-great grandfather was born a German citizen and it appears that he naturalized in South Africa in 1903 - 1 year before my great grandfather was born. From my understanding under normal circumbstances I would not be able to claim German citizenship UNLESS: 1) My grandfather signed the “Konsulatsmatrikel” (consular register) of the German consulate to notify them that he wanted to keep his German citizenship in addition to his new South African citizenship, and 2) registered my great grandfather as a foreign birth in the consular register. Is this correct?

Also, where would I be able to find these records? At the german embassy in South Africa or in Germany?

And finally, if my great-great grandfather had lost his German citizenship before my great grandfather was born but re-aquired it some years later when my great grandfather was still alive, would I then be entitled to claim German citizenship?

As I understand the German citizenship process, yes, your statements are correct. As for finding those records, I would ask first at the German embassy in South Africa. They should be able to tell you whether they keep the records on site or forward them to Germany.

If your g-g-grandfather reacquired his citizenship later and your g-greatgrandfather was still alive, the specifics would depend on what laws were in effect at that time. As I understand the current laws, your g-grandfather would have been eligible for German citizenship but would have had to renounce whatever citizenship he had at that time (in this case South African, I believe).

The key is that Germany does not permit citizenship to skip generations. So each person in the chain has to have been a German citizen in order to be able to pass it along to the next generation.

Hi Janice,Thanks for all your helpful information :)My grandfather (who was born in the 1800's - yes my dad would be 98 if he was still alive) was born in Sweden and my grandmother in Italy - is there a chance if an ancestral visa for me? If so where would I start looking for information?

Hi, there's a chance, but it depends on which parent this is for and when people were born. If these grandparents are on your father's side, you are probably eligible for Swedish citizenship, and possibly eligible for Italian citizenship if you were born after December 31, 1947.

If this is your mother's side, you are probably eligible for Swedish citizenship if you were born after June 30, 1979, and possibly eligible for Italian citizenship if your mother was born after December 31, 1947.

A synopsis of Swedish nationality law is available athttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_nationality_law

and of Italian nationality law athttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_nationality_law

As to how to start looking for information, you would want to contact the appropriate consulate that is closest to you for specific information about applying. That's usually about the time hiring someone like me becomes practical, because the next step is finding all the documentation that proves your eligibility.

Hi JaniceMy great-grandparents were 'white' Russian and left Russia around 1918. My grandmother was born in Japan en-route from Vladivostok, Russia to Australia. Do you think there's any chance of dual-Russian citizenship based on this?Many thanks,Brian (Australia)

I'm really happy that I've found you since I'm also a genealogist enthusiast :)I come from a family of migrants which came from Eastern Europe to Argentina because of the GWWI. Actually my whole family is a genealogist enthuasiast due to our background and we're constantly trying to sort our family history out but it's hard due to the time the family left - war, destruction, cities changing name, etc-. O And so... I just wanted to ask you something. I've been told my granfather was born in Bessarabia in a place named Chilya (which has a problem on its own because of its location). He was Jewish and so he must have been registered in the synagoge there. Considering your experience in this field, do you think it would be possible for me to find some birth certificate in the synagoge there (in case I by some miracle I manage to find the synagoge itself)? Furthermore, his family moved to Argentina and there they joined the Argentinian Jewish colony (they've got a club, a centre and an own cementery). Again, considering your experience, do you think they've kept a record with birth certificates and so from they members?

Synagogues did not keep records of births, marriages, and deaths. Those records would have been maintained probably by the Jewish community (kehilla) and also by the Russian government. It is possible that the record of your grandfather's birth still exists. I recommend you join JewishGen.org (it's free to register an account) and then also sign up for the Bessarabia Special Interest Group e-mail list (http://www.jewishgen.org/Bessarabia/). You can look to see if records from Chilya have been found and make contact with others who are researching family from there.

I know that some of the Jewish colonies in Argentina kept records, but I don't know how extensive they were. There is a Latin America Special Interest Group e-mail list (http://www.jewishgen.org/InfoFiles/LatAmSig.html). You can post questions there and learn from other researchers what types of records might be available.

You can also look at the Family Finder (http://www.jewishgen.org/jgff/) and see if anyone else is researching your family name and location.

I wanted to add something up to my previous comment (the one about a jewish gandfather who was born in Chilya). I've got his death certificate where it says that he was naturalized argentinian but had romanian parents (both of them). I was looking for the birth certificate where it says that we was born in Romania. For the purpose of applying to the Romanian citizenship, according to what I've found on the internet, there's a law of return that I could use. It had occured to me the following 3 things and I wanted to ask whether what I think is correct:- Option 1: the law could apply to my grandfather in case he had lost his romanian nationality by becoming also an argentinian citizen and to my father because both of his grandparents never changed their status and, so, maybe it could apply to myself.- Option 2: the certificate that I already have is valid and so the law could apply to me- Option 3: if I find his birth certificate were he's declared romanian, the law could work on me

I have no clue whether what I think is correct and what then should I do next. For example, Option (1): I can try and get the birth certificate through the Jewish Society in Argentina as I mentioned or going through the National Police where they should have a copy of the birth certificate and a register of the whole process he went through in order to get the Argentinian citizenship. Option (2): I can look for my great-grandparents papers there too (through the same Argentinian Jewish Society).Ooption (3): since I'm going to Romania this January, I could go to Chilya and see what I can find.

However, option (3) it's got the most trouble not just because it's obviously far from South America but because... 1.- There are two places named Chilya: Chilja and Chilia Velche. Both are near but what nowadays is known as Chilia Velche belongs to nowadays Romania and the nowadays Chilja belongs to nowadays Ukraine. 2. I need to look for a synagoge there

And so I also wanted to ask whether this idea of going and looking there had no sense at all or if it had and that I should try there, and what do you think I could possibly find or except to find

You should look for records before you travel to Europe, because it can be difficult to find the records in Romania and in Ukraine. So yes, try to get a copy of his complete Argentinian naturalization and see what documents are there. You may find that he provided an affidavit of birth rather than an actual copy of a birth record. Try to get copies of your great-grandparents' records also. If your father qualifies through them, you may be able to qualify through him.

You did not say when your grandfather or great-grandparents were born. Depending on when that happened, they may not have been considered Romanian citizens.

It will be extremely important to determine exactly where your grandfather was born. If it was the town now known as Chilja, you would not be eligible for Romanian citizenship, because that town is now in Ukraine.

Evening JaniceI am very interested in my family History and forward the following information re same.My Grandmother was born in New Zealand when it was a British Colony. As a young child her mother and father including her came to South Africa. After a short time in SA her parents died in which my grandmother was placed in a children's home as there was no family. She never lost or gave up her New Zealand citizenship.She married my grandfather who's father came from Scotland to fight in SA World War 2. Thus my first name , second name and surname Scottish.

My biological Father , grandmother and grandfather then moved to old Rhodesia also getting citizenship.Grandmother still retaining her New Zealand passport except for the others. They then had to come back to South Africa , my father then married and in 1975 I was born in SA. Is there a chance that I may qualify re same , another passport.Thanking youHeath

Your situation is interesting in that all of the countries in which your family members lived apparently were part of the British Commonwealth when they lived there. Without specific dates for your parents and grandparents I can't be sure, but it appears that your grandmother probably did not have New Zealand citizenship but had British citizenship instead, as New Zealand was not independent when she left. When she moved to South Africa, it was not an independent country, so nothing would have changed. When your grandfather was born, he probably would have been a British citizen, so he would have passed that to your father.

When your father and grandparents moved to Rhodesia, it was likely part of the Commonwealth, but I'm not sure because you did not include the year. If it was still in the Commonwealth, they probably would not have acquired citizenship but would have maintained their British citizenship.

According to the synopsis of South African national law available on Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_nationality_law

you were born in the period when South Africa was a foreign country and not part of the Commonwealth. Therefore I am guessing you are inquiring about obtaining British citizenship, although you did not state this.

Your specific situation depends significantly on whether your father or grandparents actually naturalized as a citizen somewhere via filing of paperwork. Do you know if they did this?

Thank you for your wonderful information here. I could not find a related question: does it matter how long back the right of return for Ireland or Scotland is valid? I am looking at g-g-g-grandfathers on both sides. They both left between 1780-1810. Is this too far back? Their sons were born here. How do you determine if and when they became US citizens in that early period? Thank you, Amy.

Unfortunately, your ancestors left too long ago for you to be eligible for citizenship by descent. Ireland and the United Kingdom (there is currently no such thing as "Scottish" citizenship; people in Scotland are British citizens) both require that the ancestor be no further back than a grandparent. There is no eligibility if it was a great-grandparent or earlier who was a citizen of the old country.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_nationality_law

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_nationality_law

As for your second question, how to determine if and when your immigrant ancestors became U.S. citizens, the 1820 and 1830 censuses have a column to indicate if someone is not a citizen, and you can look for court records in the areas where they lived. Good luck with your research!

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About Me

I am passionate about genealogy. I love researching my own family and everyone else's, and I will talk your ear off about the cool things I have found. I like fitting all the pieces together and figuring out which people belong to which families. I also love to find the stories behind the people and learn as much as I can about why they did what they did. I look at the historical context around the people I research.

I am lucky enough to do what I love for a living. I am a professional genealogist who specializes in
Jewish, forensic, and newspaper research. I am also active as a volunteer in the genealogy community. I edit three genealogy publications: ZichronNote, journal of the San Francisco Bay Area Jewish
Genealogical Society (SFBAJGS); The Baobab Tree, journal of the African American Genealogical Society of Northern California (AAGSNC); and the CSGA Newsletter, from the California State Genealogical Alliance. I am the vice president and programming and publicity director for SFBAJGS, and a board member of AAGSNC and CSGA. I have been on the staff of
the Oakland FamilySearch Library since 2000.

I am a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, Council for the Advancement of Forensic Genealogy, Genealogical
Speakers Guild, and California Genealogical Society. Before
becoming a professional genealogist, I worked in publishing for
many years as an editor, indexer, translator, and compositor.

When not involved in genealogy or publishing, I love singing, cooking, needlework, gardening, historical reenactment, and painting small miniatures. Way back when, I was in the USC Marching Band for five years (I've performed at two Super Bowl halftime shows and one World Series game, and I can be seen in "The Naked Gun"), one of the best experiences of my life.